Ermita denies anomaly in Malampaya funds

MANILA, Philippines - Former executive secretary Eduardo Ermita denied yesterday there were irregularities in the release of revenues of the Palawan natural gas project or Malampaya funds for post-disaster rehabilitation projects in 2009.

Ermita said he was issuing the clarification with a heavy heart over this latest attempt to malign him and the previous administration.

“But I also do so with a clear conscience and high hopes that, once again, unproven innuendoes shall be dispelled by the bright light of actual facts and rational discourse,” he said in a statement.

“Because those funds were intended for the amelioration and upliftment of our less fortunate countrymen, I would be among the first to condemn any irregularities that may be proven to have taken place in the disbursement of those funds,” he added.

He said within a one-week period from Sept. 26 to Oct. 1 in 2009, the country was hit by devastating typhoons Ondoy and Pepeng.

According to a post-disaster needs assessment (PDNA) conducted by the Asian Development Bank (ADB), the total cost of recovery and reconstruction would be $4.42 billion or P190 billion.

Commenting on these costs, the ADB warned that, “the needs for financing are large, but the cost of doing nothing would be larger still.”